Fitting Your Nose To Your Face

Rhinoplasty. Or nose jobs, if you prefer.

They are among the world’s most popular cosmetic surgeries--and one of the hardest to perform well. And they are not just cosmetic. In fact, many prospective patients discover, during a rhinoplasty consultation with a surgeon, that they could also realize improvements to their breathing. Especially if they’ve had injuries to the nose or face.

What are some of the most important things for prospective patients to know when considering rhinoplasty? We asked Dr. Luis Macias, Aesthetic Surgery Program Director at the USC Keck School of Medicine, who was trained at the prestigious Mayo Clinic and the University of Pennsylvania. He is also double Board-Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery.

“When it comes to rhinoplasty,” he says, “Maintaining a natural appearance to a patient’s nose is frequently the key to exceeding his or her cosmetic goals.”

But how is that possible? Isn’t the perfect nose hard to achieve for some patients?

“The nose has to match the face,” he says. “It can be a trap to try and chase trends. Twenty years ago, for example, many patients would come in asking for the ‘scooped-out’ look popular at the time. But maybe their faces weren’t suited to that.”

“The nose has to match the face,” he says. “It can be a trap to try and chase trends. Twenty years ago, for example, many patients would come in asking for the ‘scooped-out’ look popular at the time. But maybe their faces weren’t suited to that.”

What does he suggest to patients who may not realize their dream nose may not be the best nose for them? “Amazing results can be achieved with even conservative adjustments,” he says, “So long as patients and their physicians work closely together.”

One tool Dr. Macias uses to enhance the patient-physician partnership is the Vectra 3D Imaging device, which allows him to explore with patients how adjustments, both significant and subtle, will look on them, from any angle, in real time.

“It is important for doctors to help their patients envision what potential adjustments will look like on their own faces. Different doctors achieve this in different ways, but that consultative process is critical to ensuring a patient has his or her expectations met.”

Finally, while cost can be a barrier, patients should not let that keep them from arranging a consultation.

“The health benefits that can be realized by some patients are very real,” Dr. Macias adds. “If you have a congenital defect that interferes with your breathing, or perhaps have had facial trauma in the past, some insurance companies may cover corrective surgery.”